Andrena cineraria - Ashy Mining Bee

4 Jul, 2012
13 likes

Busy flying around the garden this morning, this strange looking Bee/Fly insect was trying to dodge the raindrops.
Looking in my book later, I think it's a type of Horned Bee which usually lives in the warmer parts of central Europe. This though was about 20mm in length which would appear to be too large as they are usually 10 - 12mm. Any ideas what it could be?

Gnarly has named it....Ashy Mining Bee, common in Rutland and Leicestershire.........maybe it's having a summer holiday here in Lincs...Lol!

Comments on this photo

Sheilabub

Can't ID him Janey, but great pic!

4 Jul, 2012

Terratoonie

Great close-up pic, Janey :o)

4 Jul, 2012

Motinot

My grandaughter said....cool

4 Jul, 2012

Sheilar

Good shot

4 Jul, 2012

Amy

No idea Janey ,A good pic though ! we have a new bee here in our garden from Europe called the Tree Bee it has a ginger head black body and a white tail end ..

5 Jul, 2012

Simbad

I "d ask Gnarly Gnome Janey he keeps bees and is good at his bee species:-)
Great picture :-)

5 Jul, 2012

Clarice

Brill shot.

5 Jul, 2012

Gnarly_gnome

if its larger than normal it could be a male , I think maybe Andrena Cineraria

Ashy or Grey Mining Bee

Hope this helps point you in the right direction I would sugest putting the photo on NaturePlus Community Bug Forum , similar to this forum but insects of the UK

5 Jul, 2012

Janey

Thanks very much Gnarly...yes this is it, a solitary bee. Ill have a look at the Nature forum too....:o)

5 Jul, 2012

Gnarly_gnome

Hey I got it right !! Simbad will be proud of me , deffo looks like the male, you must have sandy dry areas were you live problem with all these diffrent bees a good example Bumble Bees , they can look diffrent in parts of the UK but are the same species. Imm no expert though

6 Jul, 2012

Simbad

I never doubted you Gg , knew you"d know ;-))

6 Jul, 2012